Unveiling the Age of Stars: What Happens When You Complete Ranni’s Questline in Elden Ring?
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So, you’ve braved the treacherous dungeons, deciphered cryptic clues, and emerged victorious from harrowing boss battles. You’ve poured hours into the intricate world of Elden Ring, and now you stand at the precipice of completing Ranni the Witch’s questline. But what awaits you on the other side? Fear not, Tarnished, for I shall illuminate the path ahead.
Completing Ranni’s questline unlocks the Age of Stars ending, one of the most unique and impactful conclusions to your Elden Ring journey. This ending is not automatically triggered simply by finishing the quest. Instead, after defeating the final boss, you’ll find a summoning sign on the ground, allowing you to summon Ranni. Choosing this option will initiate the Age of Stars ending, where you become her consort and usher in a new era for the Lands Between, bathed in the light of the Dark Moon. Ranni will replace Marika as the vessel of the Elden Ring. The story isn’t just about achieving a victory; it’s about reshaping the very fabric of reality.
But the implications run deeper than just a change in scenery. With her newfound power, Ranni intends to liberate the lost souls trapped by the Erdtree, ushering in an age of greater freedom and individual agency. Completing the quest also grants you the Dark Moon Greatsword, a powerful weapon imbued with magical frost, and opens up further dialogue options with Miniature Ranni at a Site of Grace in Ranni’s Rise.
Understanding the Nuances of Ranni’s Quest and Its Outcome
Ranni’s quest isn’t a simple fetch quest; it’s a profound journey filled with moral ambiguity, philosophical implications, and challenging encounters. It’s a quest that forces you to question the established order and consider alternative futures for the Lands Between.
Rewards and Consequences
Beyond the Age of Stars ending and the Dark Moon Greatsword, completing Ranni’s quest has several significant consequences:
- New Dialogue: After completing the questline and resting at the new Ranni’s Chamber Site of Grace, you can speak to the Miniature Ranni, revealing more about her intentions and the nature of the Age of Stars.
- Blaidd’s Fate: Returning to Ranni’s Rise after completing the quest will trigger a confrontation with Blaidd, a tragic character whose loyalty to Ranni clashes with his predetermined destiny.
- Access to New Areas: The quest unlocks the Cathedral of Manus Celes in the Moonlight Altar area, which is crucial for both completing the quest and understanding Ranni’s backstory.
FAQs: Delving Deeper into Ranni’s Questline and Its Impact
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the intricacies of Ranni’s questline and its consequences:
1. Does completing Ranni’s quest lock me out of other endings?
No, completing Ranni’s quest does not automatically lock you out of other endings. After defeating the final boss, you will have the option to choose between multiple endings depending on the quests you’ve completed. Ranni’s ending is one of those choices, presented as a summoning sign on the ground.
2. Is the Age of Stars ending considered the “best” ending?
Whether the Age of Stars is the “best” ending is subjective. Many consider it a more optimistic outcome compared to some of the other, bleaker endings. It offers a vision of a future where the influence of the Greater Will is diminished, and individuals have more agency. Some argue that it’s morally grey, even the Games Learning Society could debate the ethics of taking the Lands Between to a new Age. However, the game deliberately avoids presenting any ending as definitively “good” or “bad.”
3. What happens to Ranni after I trigger the Age of Stars ending?
After the Age of Stars ending, Ranni ascends to godhood, essentially replacing Marika as the vessel of the Elden Ring. She embarks on a journey to establish a new order in the Lands Between, guided by the light of the Dark Moon. You, as her consort, will rule beside her. Ranni falls into a deep slumber after her questline is over and a new Site of Grace called “Ranni’s Chamber” will appear at the top of Ranni’s Rise.
4. Is Ranni a good or evil character?
Ranni is a morally grey character, neither purely good nor purely evil. Her actions are driven by a desire to break free from the control of the Greater Will and establish a new order. She is willing to make sacrifices and take drastic measures to achieve her goals, which some might consider ruthless, but ultimately she’s trying to create a future where individuals have greater freedom.
5. Where does Ranni go after you “marry” her in the Age of Stars ending?
Ranni’s physical location after the Age of Stars ending is implied to be within the cosmos itself, as she embarks on her journey to establish the new order. Her spirit and influence will reshape the Lands Between, guided by the light of the Dark Moon.
6. Is the Lord of Frenzied Flame ending harder to get than the Age of Stars ending?
The Lord of Frenzied Flame ending is generally considered more difficult to achieve than the Age of Stars ending. It requires a specific series of actions, including receiving the Frenzied Flame from the Three Fingers beneath Leyndell, Royal Capital, and it can lock you out of other endings unless you take specific measures to reverse the effects.
7. Is Ranni the real villain of Elden Ring?
Whether Ranni is a villain is a matter of perspective. She is undeniably a catalyst for many of the events that lead to the Shattering, as her plot to kill Godwyn the Golden is what ultimately drives Marika to break the Elden Ring. However, her motivations are not inherently malicious; she seeks to liberate the Lands Between from the influence of the Greater Will, even if it means causing widespread chaos and destruction in the short term.
8. Does the Tarnished become the Elden Lord in the Age of Stars ending?
In the Age of Stars ending, the Tarnished does not become the Elden Lord in the traditional sense. Instead, they become Ranni’s consort, ruling alongside her as she establishes a new order. Your role is to support her in this endeavor, rather than taking on the mantle of Elden Lord yourself.
9. Does Melina approve of the Age of Stars ending?
Melina’s fate is somewhat ambiguous in the Age of Stars ending. If you have not embraced the Frenzied Flame, she will likely disapprove of your choice, as it deviates from the path she initially intended for you. However, if you have embraced the Frenzied Flame and then reversed it, her fate becomes more complex and less explicitly defined.
10. Can I complete Varre’s questline and Ranni’s questline in the same playthrough?
Yes, you can complete both Varre’s questline and Ranni’s questline in the same playthrough. These questlines are independent of each other and do not conflict in any way.
11. Does Ranni genuinely care for the Tarnished?
Ranni expresses a degree of affection for the Tarnished in the Age of Stars ending, referring to them as her “lord” and “dear consort.” This suggests that she acknowledges and appreciates their role in helping her achieve her goals, and that there is a genuine connection between them.
12. Which Elden Ring ending is considered the canon ending?
There is no officially designated “canon” ending for Elden Ring. FromSoftware has intentionally left the choice of ending up to the player, allowing for multiple interpretations of the story and its themes. Many consider the default “Elden Lord” ending to be the closest to a canon ending, as it is the most straightforward and requires the least amount of deviation from the main story path.
13. Can I get the Dung Eater ending and the Age of Stars ending in the same playthrough?
No, you cannot get both the Dung Eater ending and the Age of Stars ending in the same playthrough. These endings require mutually exclusive actions, as they involve using different Mending Runes to repair the Elden Ring. You must choose one or the other.
14. What percentage of players actually achieve the Age of Stars ending?
The exact percentage of players who achieve the Age of Stars ending is difficult to determine precisely, as achievement data is not always publicly available. However, based on available information, it is likely that the Age of Stars ending is one of the more popular choices among players, alongside the default Elden Lord ending.
15. Is there any DLC planned that might expand on the Age of Stars ending?
As of this writing, there’s an upcoming Elden Ring DLC: Shadow of the Erdtree, and there’s no confirmation on whether any DLC will directly expand upon the Age of Stars ending. However, given the rich lore and complex world of Elden Ring, it is certainly possible that future content could explore the consequences of Ranni’s actions and the new order she establishes.
Conclusion: Embracing the Moonlight
Completing Ranni’s questline is a monumental achievement in Elden Ring, offering a unique and impactful conclusion to your journey through the Lands Between. The Age of Stars ending is more than just a victory; it’s a transformation, a reshaping of the world according to Ranni’s vision. Whether you view it as a benevolent liberation or a morally ambiguous upheaval, it’s an ending that will leave you pondering the nature of fate, freedom, and the very essence of the Elden Ring for a long time to come.
By understanding the rewards, consequences, and philosophical implications of Ranni’s quest, you can make an informed decision about your character’s destiny and shape the future of the Lands Between according to your own values. Now go forth, Tarnished, and embrace the moonlight. Just remember to play and learn more through the GamesLearningSociety.org.